About Guatemala - Click here to learn more facts about Guatemala.
A Brief History About the Merendon Mountains of Guatemala
The Merendon Mountains, once called Monte Oscuro or The Dark Forest; are unique in their beauty and form
with rocky hills and crags, covered by a lush green carpet of natural finery crisscrossed by mountain
springs and rivers all coming together into a scene of wild beauty.
The climate is variable, shifting
between subtropical and tropical with changing humidity depending on which area of the jungle or
elevation of the landscape you happen to be in. It has been called the Oasis de Oriente if not by visitors
then most certainly by those natives still making a living off this land as their ancestors.
There are 36 villages in the region of La Union, Zapaca - CCAMRE is helping 3 of them: Timushan, Volcancito and
Peña Blanca scattered throughout the region, some located in areas difficult to reach, even by foot.
Originally, these indigenous communities emigrated from the village of Tunoco in the District of Chiquimula
with people in search of new land to establish themselves in the mountains. However due to the high elevation
and uneven surface the area is difficult to farm productively, and due to the sheer expense agricultural
technology cannot be easily introduced to improve the lot of those who have chosen this area for their livelihood.
Stricken by perpetual poverty, natural disasters and the hardship that comes with living off the land,
the progress of the villagers has been slow. There is limited access to health service, limited education,
and little to no economic development all of which has been a huge obstacle towards prosperity for these people.
Without aid from the outside world, the communities of the Merendon Mountains continue to endue dreadful living
conditions bereft of the basic necessities of life.
Geography
Guatemala has two coastlines—one along the Caribbean Sea between Honduras and Belize, and the longer one along the Pacific Ocean between El Salvador and Mexico. Covering an area of 109,000 square kilometres, the country is dominated by mountains, with a narrow coastal plain along the Pacific and a rolling limestone plateau to the northeast.
Population
Guatemala has over 11 million inhabitants. While 60% of the population speak Spanish as a first language, the other 40% speak one of 23 indigenous languages.
Economy
Guatemala produces agricultural products such as coffee, sugar, bananas, sugarcane, corn, and beans,
and raises such livestock as cattle, sheep, and pigs. More than 59% of the country's jobs are in agriculture.
Exporting coffee, sugar, bananas, cardamom (a spice), and petroleum is increasing in importance.
Although Guatemala has abundant resources, it is emerging from a prolonged civil war and is working toward
stabilizing its political, social, and economic environment. The signing of the peace accords in 1996 removed
a major obstacle to foreign investment. However, despite economic reforms, the country continues to be plagued
by some of the highest poverty rates in the Americas, and close to 70% of its population live below the poverty line.